The Best Way to Clean Glass Shower Doors

Experts share their best ways to clean glass shower doors

They are a common addition to most, if not all, modern bathrooms. They can become a feature piece and also add a touch of elegance. But they can be a source of major frustration. We are, of course, talking about glass shower doors. They have generally replaced the old shower curtain of yesteryear.

Constant exposure to water, steam, soap and shampoo means that glass shower doors can often be the site of grime and mineral deposit build up. With this article we wanted to share with you the best way to clean glass shower doors and ensure they continue to sparkle long into the future. In this article you will find the following useful information:

• Advice on creating DIY Shower Cleaners that mean you can avoid the use of harsh chemicals in your bathroom. These cleaning solutions are environmentally friendly.
• A list of the right cleaning tools to make the deep clean and preventative maintenance of your glass shower doors easier.
• Preventative tactics to ensure that, once your shower door is clean it becomes easier to maintain a streak free shine in the future.

You could spend hours cleaning the rest of the bathroom. But, if the shower door is dirty, it will give the impression of an unclean bathroom. Glass shower doors are not easy to clean, especially if they have not been looked after for a while. It’s not as simple as a quick wipe down, and standard glass cleaner with a cloth is unlikely to do the trick either. We have collated the best tips from our experts to put together this article on the best way to clean glass shower doors. We’ll first look at a deep clean and then proactive maintenance going forward so you won’t have to a deep clean so often. 

In discussing the best ways to clean glass shower doors the first thing all of our experts recommend is to ensure that you have the right tools for the job. You want to store them together so they are always easily within reach. Here is a recommended list of the supplies you should put together as a starting point. 

• White vinegar
• Water (Distilled may be preferable depending on your local water supply)
• Dishwashing liquid (optional)
• Microfiber cloths
• Empty spray bottle
• Squeegee (for daily maintenance)
• An old toothbrush

Pro tip: If you want your bathroom to smell nice you may also want to add some essential oils to this list.

One of the most effective, non-toxic ways to clean glass shower doors is with a mixture of vinegar and water. Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts water. Heat it in a microwave so it mixes properly and then leave this cleaning solution to cool. Once cooled, you should add your cleaning mixture to a spray bottle. Some people are happy with the smell of vinegar. If this smell doesn’t suit you then you might want to look at adding a couple of drops of essential oils. If you are worried that vinegar might damage your shower recess it’s possible to use dishwashing liquid instead.

2. Spray your glass shower door and leave it to do it’s work

The next step to see you end up with clean glass shower doors is to spray your already prepared cleaning solution onto the door. You can then leave it for up to 30 minutes to do it’s magic (but it does most of its work in the first few minutes.) This will help loosen any inbuilt grime, stains and other build up.

3. Wash down the door with clean water and a clean sponge

The next step for clean glass shower doors is to clean off your solution. The best way to do this is with a clean sponge or cloth and warm water. Wipe down the doors to make sure that all cleaning solution and grime is removed.

4. Use a microfibre cloth to clean and dry the door

After you’ve let your glass shower door solution do it’s magic, you should work from top to bottom with a microfibre towel, making sure all the grime is removed. As you work from top to bottom you can also use the cloth to remove streaks and smudges. Leave your clean glass shower doors with a sparkle.

5. Ongoing prevention is your best defence for clean glass shower doors

You need to regularly maintain your glass shower door to ensure there is no massive grime build up in the future. The easiest way to do this is with a squeegee, regularly wiping down your door as you finish your shower. Regular maintenance extends the life of your glass shower door and helps prevent potential damage.

Pro Tip: if the hard water stains and grim don’t come off using this method, then the best option is to use a steam cleaner to loosen the stains up. This is the quickest and most effective method.

Pro Tip 2: if, like most people, you don’t have a steam cleaner handy, try using a lemon and some salt. Cut the lemon in half, cover it with kitchen salt, and scrub the shower screen. Squeeze well for the juice to come out and keep adding salt from time to time.

Side note: if you’ve got mould stuck in the edges of your shower doors, then that’s when the old toothbrush comes in handy. Spray with vinegar and scrub away. You can also read this article about How to Remove Mould Naturally.

More tips from the pros

Whether you clean the inside or the outside of your glass shower door depends on whether you are cleaning the rest of your bathroom at the same time. The inside of the glass shower door requires the most effort as this is where you will find most soap scum and deposits.

When should you clean glass shower doors?

You can clean glass shower doors at any time but you may find your job easier if you clean your glass shower doors immediately after the last person has had their shower for the day. There are a couple of reasons for this. The warm water and steam in your bathroom will have helped loosen the dirt and grime. If you can’t do it immediately after your family has showered, let your hot water run for a little while to ensure you achieve the same result.

This gives your cleaning solution a better chance of working its magic without the need for excessive scrubbing. Whilst you are letting your cleaning solution work it’s magic, our experts suggest doing some other chores at the same time – for example cleaning the toilet, the walls or the sink whilst you are waiting.

Your glass shower door cleaning schedule.

By this stage you are probably wondering how often you need to clean glass shower doors. As we have mentioned throughout this article, your job is made easier with regular proactive and preventative maintenance. Here are how often you’ll likely need to do certain tasks.

Every 1-2 months – Every 1-2 months you will need to do a deep clean of your glass shower doors following the process I mentioned above using your cleaning solution. When you do a deep clean, don’t forget to get into all the nooks and crannies around the glass shower door. This is where your dedicated toothbrush comes in handy. By using this toothbrush to scrub, you’ll ensure all soap scum and deposits are removed. However, the more you do the following two things, the less often you have to give your glass shower doors a deep clean:

Every 1-2 weeks – Every 1-2 weeks you need to give your shower door a strong rub with a sponge. No need to get out the cleaning solution but give it a good strong wipe after you’ve had a shower so the steam and hot water can make this easier for you.

2-3 times per week – A couple of times per week you should get out the squeegee and wipe down the glass doors. You should leave the shower door and your bathroom door open to allow everything to air dry.

Some final thoughts and tips

The more you wipe down with your squeegee and sponge (it won’t take long, we promise) the less often you will need to do a deep clean of your glass shower doors.

You should have all your supplies together to make your life easier. Using the right cleaning materials and having everything within reach and easy to find will make the job less stressful. The squeegee is your friend.

You may want to stop using soap altogether. Your glass shower doors will be easier to clean if you use soluble shower gels instead.

With this article we have shared with you the process the experts recommend for clean glass shower doors. This will make the job as easy as possible. It certainly won’t make it fun though and you may have better things to do with your time.

If you would like a no obligation quote on home cleaning services , if you would like us to give you clean glass shower doors, then please get in touch today for a no obligation quote. We look forward to hearing from you.